When the Tarot Gives You a Bad Reading — What You Can Do

June 15, 2018 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

“So, I put the Tarot spread down, and then I caught my breath,” one of my Wiccan elders told me.

“Then what happened?” I asked.

“I knew that it was going to be tough to express what the cards were saying to my friend,” my Wiccan elder said.

I understood the situation. She was going to have to tell her friend something that she did not want to hear.

A significant number of people are concerned about having to face a “bad reading.” It’s tough enough to talk about it. It can be even harder to face a tough Tarot reading that applies to you.

Here are three steps to help you work through the dark waters of bad news.

Postpone Being Upset by Doing a Meditation

Go into meditation and ask for Goddess’s Viewpoint on the matter. You may be surprised! Some events that look bad at first glance are actually good news.

I have a friend who taught college students. She worked at many different colleges to make ends meet. One day she was doing a reading and saw that she would stop teaching college students. She was devastated.

Then, she did a meditation and asked the Goddess what to do …

Do Another Spread the Next Day

She asked the question “If I do _____, what is the outcome?” When she read the answer, she was puzzled. It gave her the same answer as the day before.

So, she repeated the step of meditation to ask for guidance and to see the situation clearly.

She also talked with her Wiccan Elders and other trustworthy people.

Take Positive Action and Add Meditation

The next day she did what she hoped was a positive action related to her situation. She signed up for a Toastmasters group (a group where people practice public speaking)—based on a vague notion that she might become a life coach and giving speeches would help her find clients.

She now says that she gets to work with clients who really want her help—which is quite different from teaching required college classes. She is now free of half-hearted efforts from a significant number of college students. (She hated giving out bad grades.)

So, the “Bad News” that she thought she had received turned out to be a blessing to help her make a transition into what she was meant to do.

Doing meditation sessions and asking for Goddess’s viewpoint can really open up possibilities in your life. Not all endings are bad—although they might include pain at first.

May these three steps help you as you discover your next chapter of life.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Style Weight Loss: Wiccans — Happy, Healthy and Confident

Try My Online Course

Break Free with Goddess: Wiccans – How You Can Get Free of Worry, Illness and Anxiety and Enjoy Abundance, Health and Confidence

Be a Wiccan Badass: Become More Confident and Unleash Your Inner Power

Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

Goddess Style Weight Loss: Wiccans — Happy, Healthy and Confident

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Check out my site MoonwaterSilverClaw.com for spells and more.

Protect Yourself from Big Samhain Mistakes – And Enjoy the Best of this Sabbat

October 27, 2017 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

Skull

“I don’t think I’ll ever do that supper ritual again!” my friend, Amanda said.

“What happened?” I asked.

“We invited the spirits of our dead friends and family members to the ritual supper, and they did NOT leave! Over the next days, I felt really depressed. I later learned that my friend, Alex, was hovering near me. I was being haunted,” Amanda said.

This is a real problem if one fails to do the appropriate precautions for a specific Samhain dinner, titled a “Dumb Supper.” The word dumb refers to “unable to speak.”

We (my coven) will soon hold our annual Dumb Supper. This is a ritual meal eaten without talking or even making a peep.

You invite your deceased loved ones by setting a place for them at the table. It is so nice to visit with departed friends and family members. Sometimes, you can hear them, and sometimes they show signs that they are present. For example, one of my coven mates told me she saw a sign swing back and forth waving “Hi.” It really moved her heart.

Be sure to “kick out” departed friends and family members after the celebration is done. You do not want them hanging around. After you have shared your time with them, make sure they go back to the Land of the Dead where they belong.

I have heard of situations when a departed family member desperately tried to express his sorrow and attempts to apologize. Unfortunately, the living family member felt depressed or even scared.

Here is an example of language to send the spirits away: “Thank you for participating during our supper. We now send our departed family members and departed friends back to the Summerlands. We now Close the Veil. So Mote It Be.”

* * * * * *

Ever wonder what you should and shouldn’t do during Samhain? Here are some quick tips for this Sabbat. This is just a partial list.

The Do’s:

Honor your departed friends and family.

Samhain is my favorite Sabbat. We honor those who have crossed the Veil with offerings and recalling memories of them when they were alive.

When you make offerings and bring up memories of your loved ones who have crossed over to the Summerlands, you bring them alive again in your own heart and others’ hearts.

Some things you can do are simple. You could fix their favorite meal or drink. Give them a toast with that drink with good energy and love.

The most important thing … Have fun!

This is a joyful time where we get to get to visit with our departed loved ones. Do you think that they want you to be sad? No. Our departed loved ones want us to be happy.

When you see or hear your departed loved ones, allow a smile to rise to your face. And, it’s also okay to have tears of joy when being reunited with departed loved ones.

The Don’ts:

Don’t get upset with the Mundanes.

Don’t fret over the general society’s way of celebrating Samhain. Yes, they have taken and distorted some things from us, Pagans. Be kind. They don’t know any better. Instead, enjoy the festivities. You don’t have to be a downer to the Mundanes. Hand out candy. And have some fun.

Don’t do your ritual on the October 31^st.

There will be too many distractions with answering the door and handing out goodies to the little ones in the evening. This is the reason why many witches celebrate on either the weekend before or after October 31^st.

Don’t forget the Ancestor Altar.

Having an Ancestor Altar is really fun, and it’s a must for Samhain. Decorate your altar with pictures of passed loved ones and include your departed pets! Witches love their animals. And yes, they go to the Summerlands, too.

Just imagine … those of us who have had a lot of pets over the years, we’re going to get mobbed with love when our numerous pets greet us in the Summerlands!

These are just some of the do’s and the don’ts.

Consider asking others about their experiences. We can learn from each other.

Let’s make this Samhain one to remember fondly.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Style Weight Loss: Wiccans — Happy, Healthy and Confident

“Moonwater was telling me about her weight loss program, and it sounded like something I could do that didn’t cost me more than the normal groceries I buy, anyway. I started with an egg omelet in the morning with mushrooms and spinach. … In two weeks, I lost 7 lbs. I had a couple of days of eating what I wanted but not overeating. Then right back to Goddess Style. I feel great and eat what the Goddess gives us.” – Denise Kopplinger

Be a Wiccan Badass: Become More Confident and Unleash Your Inner Power

As a Wiccan I found this an inspiring read. Written in a way that makes it accessible to everyone irrespective of their current knowledge. – Shona Cathro

Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path

I don’t generally write reviews on books I’ve read…but this time i feel lead to. This book spoke volumes to me, as if the author knew exactly where I’m coming from and what I’m struggling with. It’s not often a book can make me cry, but this one did by making me see the many blocks I’ve put up in my life. I knew they were there, but I’ve gotten skilled at pretending they’re not. Thank you for helping me see I’m not some freak because of circumstances throughout my life that have caused the blocks, and that i need to stop hiding from or burying them and face them one step at a time. – Crystal Sparks

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

This book is a must have for all of those starting out on the spiritual path of Wicca and for all of those who are just looking for some light and love in their life. MoonWater SilverClaw uses her knowledge of Wicca and her personal experiences to not only teach the Law of Attraction in a clear manner but to help you use the Law of Attraction to better your life.

Through simple guided meditations and tips on living a happy healthy life this book takes you on a journey that will teach you how to love yourself, better your self image, and rid yourself of the negative energies that prevent you from reaching your goals.

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MoonWater SilverClaw is truly an inspirational writer for a newer generation of Wiccans and those seeking to use the natural energies of the earth to make changes in their life. Her writing style speaks from the heart because she has been where the reader is, she has used these techniques and steps to better her own life and now she is helping the reader use the Law of Attraction to better theirs – Amazon Customer

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

This is an absolute gem for the witch with issues. Rituals for things like self-esteem are something i have never seen before. Moonwater’s writing is engrossing and draws the reader in. I am a witch with PTSD M.S. and other issues and this book made me feel hopeful and capable. – t’air

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Ms. SilverClaw has written a book that is really great for the beginner wanting to learn about Wiccan or wants to start practicing the art of Wicca. I found this book wonderful, easy to read, and extremely helpful and informative. It covers everything from what Wicca is, the history of Wicca and how Wicca became misassociated with evil, along with how Wicca can help/save people’s lives. Ms. SilverClaw also discusses practicing Wicca either in a Coven or Solo, and all the things you need in order to have in order to perform your ceremony, and she explains what each item means. She explains how to create spells and gives examples to use, and explains the pitfalls of creating certain types of spells. Ms. SilverClaw has truly created a book that is a cast all net the seems to cover everything that I needed to know to begin practicing Wicca. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is searching for their first book on the topic and wants to start practicing the art of Wicca or is just curious about the topic. This is truly a Must Have book. – Tamra L. Shipman

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

This is a terrific book! It is like talking to the author over a cup of tea like one of the bloggers says. – Kitri

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Are There Spiritual Beings Helping You Right Now? — Reincarnation

March 17, 2017March 18, 2017 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

“What do you want to learn?”
“Compassion.”
“Okay. I can help you with that, the next time …”

My question for you is: Does the idea of reincarnation connect with your heart on some level?

We all start in the spirit world as spiritual beings. Before we come down to incarnate into a new body, we talk with our spirit guides and other beings. We decide what lessons we want/need to learn. We map them out and place lessons into our upcoming incarnation. Our obstacles have a gift for us.

Working Together with Other Souls

We also work together with other souls to help them learn and grow. We agree before we incarnate who our parents and friends are. Let’s say you want to learn compassion. You and another spirit talk and agree that this spirit will help you learn. In your life, you marry this person (spirit), and your spouse creates opportunities for you to learn that lesson. Some can be intense. What if you have a spouse with clinical depression or an addiction to oxycodone? This is an opportunity to learn compassion and forgiveness for your spouse.

What is a Soul Group?

We are grouped with souls that vibrate at the same level as we do (our Soul Group).

One of the great reasons we want to incarnate on the physical plane is to learn lessons and to meet and be influenced by higher vibrating souls. In this way, we hope to raise our own vibrational levels.

A number of authors suggest that reincarnating is the opportunity for us to raise the frequency of our vibrational level. It’s suggested that at higher levels of vibration we can better connect to deeper levels of the truth. We can then move on to higher realms in the spirit world.

Ideas about the importance of reincarnation arise in Wicca, Buddhism, Hinduism and more.

A view of reincarnation can even bring us comfort. When we hear of children dying, we can hold the view that they will have another opportunity in a future incarnation.

Death is the graduation of the soul to a new life.

May your understanding of reincarnation comfort you.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Be a Wiccan Badass: Become More Confident and Unleash Your Inner Power

As a Wiccan I found this an inspiring read. Written in a way that makes it accessible to everyone irrespective of their current knowledge. – Shona Cathro

Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

This is a terrific book! It is like talking to the author over a cup of tea like one of the bloggers says. – Kitri

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

The Wiccan Path to Support and Comfort During Tough Times

December 31, 2016December 31, 2016 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Thank you to the contributors of this image.

“This doesn’t make sense. Fred was such a good man. Why did he die so young?” my friend Danny asked me.

“I grieve with you. Just saying the usual words probably won’t help right now,” I began.

Later in our conversation, we talked about reincarnation. My view is: we are all here to learn lessons. With the view of reincarnation, all things fit together. For example, a child, who dies at six-years-old, can return and have another lifetime in which she grows up, gets married and has many adventures.

Still, it’s hard to endure one’s own suffering and even feelings of anguish when loved ones are suffering. Let’s take it even further: Why do the Gods allow innocent children to die in tsunamis or other situations?

Here is a possible explanation: In the Summerlands, before we incarnate we gather with other souls. We agree on helping each other to learn our lessons in the next incarnation. You might say that, together, we come up with a plan before our next incarnation.

It breaks my heart to hear of people dying in a disaster. Then I hear one of my friends say, “That disaster just reminded me how life is short and how we need to cherish each other in what little time we have.”

In the Summerlands, some souls agree to go through hardship in order to help us learn lessons that we couldn’t learn by ourselves. Some lessons only hit home when extreme things happen. Some souls agree to help others learn compassion. Other souls want to help us learn how to come back from tragedy. Additionally, I noticed that there is a certain type of comfort that can only be experienced when a friend is comforting another person who is reeling from tragedy.

You can do simple rituals to deal with suffering.

Dealing with Suffering Ritual

What you will need:

Graphic in this post
One gray candle (you can use red if you can’t find gray)
One green candle
One white candle
Three candle holders
Heat-safe surface (You place the graphic on this surface. Then place the three candle holders upon the graphic. Then place the candles in the holders.)
Healing Oil (to dress candles)
Altar tools
Cakes and wine for cakes and wine ceremony

Cast Circle in the usual manner.

Cleanse and consecrate your candles, oil and the graphic (anoint the corners of the graphic).

Place the three candle holders on the graphic.

Place the gray candle into the left-side candle holder.

Put the green candle into the middle candle holder, and place the white candle into the right-side candle holder.

Light the gray candle while saying:

With tears of sorrow I see thee,
Suffering—the bane of Earth’s peoples.

Light the green candle and say:

With the light cast by this candle
I invite you Gods and Goddesses
To spread comfort and healing to those who are suffering.
Let the people know the love that surrounds them.

Light the white candle and say:

The light of this candle sends purifying energy to
All who need comfort and support.
So mote it be.

Do the Cakes and Wine Ceremony.

Close the Circle.

** Special Note: Be sure to have the candles burn down completely. Do NOT leave unattended candles. Be safe.

May this ritual be helpful to you.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Be a Wiccan Badass: Become More Confident and Unleash Your Inner Power

As a Wiccan I found this an inspiring read. Written in a way that makes it accessible to everyone irrespective of their current knowledge. – Shona Cathro

Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

This is a terrific book! It is like talking to the author over a cup of tea like one of the bloggers says. – Kitri

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

The Ant’s Tale

June 24, 2016June 24, 2016 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Fire

The ant’s world was ablaze. Flames towered over the ant as it scampered back and forth. I saw the ant in peril on a piece of firewood in my camp fire. With compassion, I placed a stick next to the piece of firewood that was ablaze at one end. The ant rushed onto the stick.

The ant crawled half way up. But then it frantically jumped off the refuge-stick I offered and dashed back toward the flames.

Again, I placed the stick right in front of the ant. This time it got back on the refuge-stick, and I swiftly lifted the stick and placed it on the ground some distance from the camp fire. The ant was safe.

Sometimes we make bad decisions despite God’s and Goddess’s warnings. The Gods, in their compassion, save us from our own stupidity.

Earlier today, I drove on the freeway. When a large truck cut me off, I slammed on the breaks. My car slid down the freeway until the wheels regained traction. With fast reflexes and the Gods’ grace I was safe!

Sometimes we are given intuitive guidance to go into a new direction, but our fear sends us back toward the flames. Some people stay in a bad marriage or in a bad job because these are the flames they know. Uncertainty seems to be too much to bear.

We, Wiccans, can call upon the Gods to guide us. They are present. They walk beside us on our journey through our lives. (I wrote a book on this: Goddess Walks Beside You.)

The Gods try to be as supportive as possible. All we need to do is ask for help and then step forth on the new, better path. (It’s better than getting burned.)

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

“I’m So Terrified to Die”

February 12, 2016February 12, 2016 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

RWT

“I’m so terrified to die,” wrote one of the followers of my blog.

The person went on to say, “I don’t want to be like an atheist, but I’m not connecting to my soul.”

My intuition gave me the idea to share this:

“To help you connect with your soul and the Gods, I would suggest you go out into the forest or even a secluded place (pick a safe place) in a park if you can’t get to the forest. Then sit quietly. Notice nature around you. Listen to the sounds of nature. Now as you sit quietly ask the God and Goddess for a sign. Breathe deeply and slowly. Be still and relax.

The sign could be as simple as seeing a bird or some other animal (domestic or wild). You might see some fallen leaves on the ground that inspire a thought or feeling in you. Perhaps, a patch of snow in a particular shape catches your eye.

The sign does not have to come with trumpets and a parade. Most likely, it will be something small, something quiet.

But it will be there. Take your time and just sit. Listen and witness the miracle of the world. It may take a while. I suggest resting there for 20 minutes, 45 minutes or more. You can stay as long as you wish after that.

Do this on a regular basis. Soon you may see the signs of the Gods.”

Perhaps, my comments above reach something deep in you.

We Wiccans often find the God and Goddess in quiet signs found in the natural world.

I also suggest that a number of us may find the God and Goddess in a moment of creativity. Finding a connection with God and Goddess can arrive in many ways because we’re all individuals. My friend Sarah says that she finds a sign when she’s drawing or sketching. It’s like she becomes a conduit of the Divine.

My friend Mark tells me that he discovers insights as he writes. He may be writing for 10 minutes and not like what he’s writing. Then, a flash of insight, and he sees something new arrive as he keeps typing. “Where did that come from?” he asks. But then he knows. The God and Goddess wanted to say something through him.

Wiccans also connect with the God and Goddess through meditation and doing ritual.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

When Tragedy Strikes – How You Can Use Magick and Meditation to Ignite Your Inner Peace

November 21, 2015November 21, 2015 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

FrenchFlag

In light of the recent attacks on the people in Paris, France, I feel overwhelmed with sadness and anger. I mourn deeply for the people who were murdered.

For a number of days I have been thinking about what to write. What would I discuss: Sorrow, rage, wanting justice, even the desire for some form of revenge?

Still, the idea that keeps arising in my mind is:

“An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”— Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi invites us to move beyond anger and vengeance.

Still, as I feel deeply about the situation, I realize that to maintain my own health, I need to get beyond pain, anger and sadness.

For you, I offer this meditation-exercise to help you maintain your own health and ability to take action in daily life.

Before I share this meditation-exercise, I realize that it is valuable for me to discuss two different forms of strength. These ideas arose in my conversation with one of my editors:

The Strength of Anger – in the short term, this can get us moving and it can be a channel for our own pain. But in the long term, it can lead to faulty decision-making. It is short sighted. Further, it can cause significant health problems.
The Enduring Strength of Inner Peace – Inner peace is an ever-renewing source of energy.

As my editor suggested, “If you get your inner energy right you can do more right. Inner peace can help you get past the sorrow and the anger so you can be in the present moment and have all of your resources.”

The below meditation-exercise is not about denying the need for justice and more protection.

The below meditation-exercise is designed to empower you to stay in a place of awareness and strength.

Meditation Magick Exercise on Letting Go and Finding Your Hidden Strength

You will need:

a blue candle
extra virgin olive oil
boline
incense
salt
water

Cast Your Circle in your usual manner.

Cleanse your blue candle with the elements Earth and Water. Then consecrate the blue candle with your incense smoke.

Use your boline and write (on the blue candle) the name of the event that is causing your pain.

Use the olive oil to “dress your candle.”

Concentrate on the blue color, which is for healing.

Light the blue candle and focus on its flame, representing the healing truth of love and strength.

Meditate on the flame. In your mind’s eye, see the flame burning away all the negativity in your aura and the space around you. Once you feel your space/aura is cleansed, go to the next step …

Now imagine the pain of the event in your life. The event may be a personal experience or a public one like the Paris attacks. Create an image (in your mind) that represents the event. See the image floating above the flame. Concentrate on the image until it is a solid image above the candle. Feel it; know it is there.

Breathe deeply in and out, in and out. In your mind’s eye, lower the image into the flame and watch it burn away. Feel the heat in your heart as the image and related pain is transformed into the purity of peace and strength. As the image vanishes, see that all that remains is a phoenix of peace and strength.

Do the Cakes and Wine Ceremony.

Close Your Circle in your usual way.

[When you’re done with the exercise, have the candle continue burning. Make sure that things are safe so that the candle can burn until it goes out on its own. Never leave a burning candle unattended.]

I hope this meditation-exercise supports you in your personal journey of healing.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts this Yule season?

See my designs at Redbubble.

For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

Talking to Claudia

November 15, 2014November 15, 2014 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Opening up to New Ideas

“I don’t want to make a mistake. I’m new to spellwork,” Claudia said.

Shifting the phone to my other ear, I thought, “I can empathize with this because I went through it, too.”

Years ago, when I first began with Wicca, I was really concerned about doing Wicca correctly from the start. It was very important for me to honor the God and Goddess appropriately.

Claudia asked, “How do I do dedication ceremony? It seems like there are a lot of ways to do it, depending on what kind of Traditions [Trads] are out there.”

“It’s true that there are many different types of dedication ceremonies,” I began. “Many have valuable parts and there’s no one and only way to do a dedication ceremony.”

Wicca includes various rituals that a practitioner may do. Rituals can be incredibly complex to quite simple depending on your tastes. Do you like complex and complicated or do you prefer the more simple types of rituals? The best thing that I can say is whatever you do, do it from your heart. That is what pleases the Gods.

I continued by sharing my own journey and how I chose one of the oldest Trads for learning the basics.

Consider Which Witch is Which to get an overview of the different Trads out there.

Claudia then asked about casting of a circle and why people enter from the East and leave from the West. I answered, “We start in the East, in the direction of the sunrise. Then you walk around deosil (clockwise or sun-wise) untill you end up back in the East. West is the direction of Death so you exit that way. When you make a circle starting in the East, it comes around to the East again, making a ‘door.’”

Think of the cycle of life and death. We are born just like the sun each day. And then the wheel turns untill we end up at death, when the sun goes down or “dies.”

Then Claudia asked about which colors are appropriate to use for your circle. You can use white. Or you can use colors that correspond to the four directions:

North – green or brown
South – red
East – yellow
West – blue

For more information about rituals, consider my blog article “Why do Wiccans Do Ritual?”

If you want even more information, I have lots of good info for beginners in my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess.

“How do I find a good mentor?” Claudia asked and I shared with her information found in my blog post: Finding the Right Wiccan Mentor for You.

Another way to find a mentor is attending PantheaCon, a Pagan conference that takes place in the San Francisco Bay Area each February. Many different practitioners of Paganism (including Wicca) attend. You can then check out and ask about the different Trads, and learn from the practitioners themselves. You can check out the website of PantheaCon It would be fun to talk with you if we meet there. I often attend.

You can also find local mentors through Covenant of the Goddess.

I hope you find the above resources to be useful.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

And

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Book

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

And

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

The Gods Want You to Have What You Want

September 28, 2014September 28, 2014 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

Get what you want.

“Your aunt died this morning,” my father said, his face twisted in pain. “She wouldn’t eat. She didn’t want to live, anymore.”

Why had she stopped wanting to live?

Maybe this post finds you at a really tough time. Life can really hurt. We can get stuck thinking about what we don’t have.

Many Wiccans are drawn to magick because they want something to make their lives better. Perhaps, you’re longing for something to change in your life. Wanting things is not a bad thing. The Gods want us to be happy, and working on ourselves to bring something new into our lives can help us feel fulfilled. Maybe you want to make space in your home for something new like a corner of a room dedicated to your knitting materials or something else.

The real question becomes: How can we feel good now?—even if our thoughts are stuck on what we don’t have.

Pause for a moment.

What are the things you already have in your life that you are grateful for?

What do you have that you like? An iPod? A watch?

I’m grateful for this chair I’m sitting in. It’s more comfortable than the previous one.

My friend, “Sarah” lives at a level below the poverty line. But I notice that she pays attention to what the Gods have already given her. She’s happier than another friend, “Grant” who you’d think, with his high income, would be happy.

I invite you to center your thinking (for a time) on “what I have” instead of just “what I don’t have.”

In the moment, you’ll likely feel better. This is a good thing. Then, when you turn to the Gods asking for something that you desire, you’re in a better space to do effective magick.

Be grateful for what you have to get around, whether its a new car, old car or your feet!

Being grateful for the things we already have will help us realize how fortunate we are. In such a good state of being, it is easier to connect with wanting to live.

A few days ago, we celebrated Mabon, which is a harvest festival during which we’re thankful for what the Gods and Goddesses have given us.

Let’s continue our grateful feelings each day.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Book

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

And

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

How You Can Let Go of Fearing Death

May 31, 2014 / Moonwater / 3 Comments

How You Can Let Go of Fearing Death

Do you fear death? Do you wonder what lies on the other side?

Several years ago, in the hospital, I was at death’s door. I had Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). ITP is a bleeding disorder which can cause a person to bleed out simply by bumping into furniture. I could hemorrhage in my brain at any time and die instantly. When my dentist saw bruising inside my mouth, he told me to immediately go to the Emergency Room.

ITP creates the death’s door situation by having the immune system destroying platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting. The first night I stayed at the hospital the next morning I had bruises all down my body from lying on the bed. I had to remain sitting even while I slept. Because my brain could have hemorrhaged and killed me, I got to know death’s call intimately. Death was there everyday, sitting by my side waiting with me.

I had to accept that death could take me at anytime.

At first I was afraid. But then I realized that death is just a transition, not an ending.

Death is a transition to the Summerlands, a wonderful place of comfort and peace. Your family and friends who went before are there. Who could fear that?

When I first heard of the Summerlands, a complete knowing came to me. And, I also realized that that this place of comfort and peace is where we came from. So you don’t need to fear returning to where you came from. When we die, we go home.

And, once you return home, you can choose to be born again. Wiccans know this as reincarnation.

So as you connect with the idea and reality of the Summerlands, you can let go of fears about dying. Death is simply a transition to a place of rest, loved ones and renewal to prepare you for the next life, if you so choose.

Understanding that now, I do not fear death.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw